The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-11-05

tion was to occur, "and then run and tell
grandmother"
1obeyed him, though terribly frightened,
and then hastenedup-stairs, meeting grand
mother OF the head, carrying one OF the
rifles. She had heard the struggle, and
knew what 1t meant. just as size stepped
upon the stairs, there was wild yell,
great smash, and the corridor door was
talsen off its hinges. AS afterwards ascer-
tanned, the rascals had used the tools with
such vigor that tho hinges Of the door had
been almost filed off, and any other man
except grandfather must have noticed the
work.
Well, the whole twelve came bounding
into the hall, having secured my grand
father In cell, feeling confident that they
had only to force the front door to mako
their escape. Prudence stood on the stairs,
in plain view OF the villains, and they yelled
again rs they saw her.
"Hold on, therel" she shouted, bringing
the rifle to her shoulder as q sportsman
does when about to make an cff-hand shot.
"The first man who comes step nearer
will get n bullet in his heart"
"Tall, flerce-looking, and armed with
deadly weapon, the woman must have
seemed like determined obstacle In the
path OF escape, for the rascals halted In an
the crowd, and never once looking at me,
my grandmother whispered
"Frank, go down to tho sitting-room and
bring me up that big revolver. You'll find
1t in the bottom drawer of the bureau. Be
| sure and get the big one, and run for your
| lifei"
The brave woman while looking the des-
peradoes in the face, and expecting rush
every moment, had noticed that the per-
cusson cap had dropped from the nipple,
and she was yet cool enough to whisper
what she did.
ran with all my might, jerked open the
drawer, laid hold of the "Colt," which was
a heavy six-shooter, and in moment was
back again. / came just in time. The gang
had recovered from their surprise, and
having but little fear of the rife Tin the
hands of faint.away female, they thought)
they made rush for the stairs just as
handed grandmother the weapon. Click
click went the hammer; there was yell,
a report, and the man who was one-third
the way upstairs went rolling down, shot
| dead by bullet through his head.
AS the smoke lifted, caught glimpse
of grandmother's face and it frightened
me more than the yells and the shooting.
Her eyes were blazing, her teeth shut hard,
blood oozing from her mouth, coming from
her bitten lips, and never since have seen
such sight.
"Go back Go back to your cells this mo-
mentp she shouted, descending a step or
two, and aiming the revolver at the head
of the nearest man.
The gang fell back, back until they were
halfway down the hall, and then they
stopped. Wildcat Jim had given the word,
and they were going to try it again.
| hor ali oh m
raising his fist at her: well murder you
for this. We didn't want to hurt you, but
now We'll roast you alive on the stove"
She was on the middle stair and at the
head. Without moving her head or betray-
ing the least emotion in her voice, she whis-
pered to me once more:
"Frank, IL the men get me, do you shut
and lock the door, run into the sitting
room, lock that door, and then run into the
street and tell the men that the prisoners
are loose. If you don't do this, they will
kill you'll"
The gang were shouting and shaking
their fists, furious at being foiled by a
woman, and then in moment every voice
was stilled. They were going to rush.
"Come on, boys Don't spare herl"
shouted Wildcat Jim, and they rushed.
They reached the stairs, came bounding up,
another, and then every thing was still again
every thing except the sickening bump
bump, OF two dead bodies, as they fell from
step to step.
The smoke cleared off after moment
and saw three bodies at the foot Of The
stairs, and the blanched faces of the nine
desperadoes halfway down the hall. My
grandmother had only been acting on the
defence as yet; she now prepared to be
come the attacking party. Walking slowly
down the stairs, her eyes looking like blaz
ing Goals, her lips covered with blood, and
the smoking revolver held ready for use
! she stepped over the bodies, advanced tc
within five feet Of the nearest man and
said, her voice sounding like a sharp hiss
sect back, dogsi Get back into the cor
ridor! The man who stands here after
have counted ten will become corpse"
did not faint away, but came very neal
it, Clutching the railing for support, was
so blind for moment that could not see
the figures in the hall, but could hear the
clear voice OF grandmother crying out:
wo-three-four-"
She did not count further. The pale faces
grew paler, the villains trembled and they
all rushed for the corridor at once. Grand
mother followed them to the door, saw thai
her husband had been locked up, and she
commanded:
Each man of you enter your cell and
shut the door! give you just one minute
to obey"
In less than thirty seconds every prisoner
; was in his cell. Prudence then went from
cell to cell, dropped in the padlocks, ther
opened the one which Josiah occupied, and
he walked out. His face was as white as
the paper write on, and he looked at hel
} IN such vacant way that one would have
was only amazed. He had heard all, real
lied all, and could not comprehend it.
"Josiah, lock these doors, and then &c
and get Coroner Martini" commanded Pru
dence, turning to go out ''Tell him also t.
bring Mr.. Dakin, the undertaken"
The woman then sat down in chair, tolt
her story to the astonished crowd which
soon came in, and went through the whole
excitement without q finch. When al
was over she went to the sitting room, hat
fit of Mysteries as recreation, and II
half an hour was around getting the dinner
ready. She had no care for the laudation.
Of the public.
"The Barnabys came Of fighting stock,
was her reply. "Some starved at Valley
Forge, some fell at Bunker Hill, one Tough
under Paul Jones. and the blood hasn'
. turned to water yeti"
"Poohl pooh!'' replied my grandfather
when badgered because he had no hand il
twelve rascnls in the county when she ha
fair chance, and knew it'll"
! Each one Of the killed was shot dead
va a \ A.